Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Cheolwoo Recommends Gyeongju Museum as Venue for U.S.-China Summit

As the United States and China are expected to hold a summit during their visits to Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju next week, Lee Cheolwoo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, announced on the 23rd that he has recommended the Jungjeong Building at the National Gyeongju Museum as the venue for the summit. The building was newly constructed with the intention of serving as the venue for the leaders' dinner.

Lee Cheolwoo, Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.

During a meeting with reporters at his office in Gyeongju Expo Grand Park on the same day, Governor Lee said, "I recommended to Joseph Yun, Acting U.S. Ambassador to Korea, that the U.S.-China summit should be held at the Gyeongju Museum," adding, "Ambassador Yun asked me to also convey this suggestion to the Chinese Embassy in Korea."

Initially, there was considerable interest in where the U.S. and Chinese leaders, each visiting Korea for APEC, would hold their bilateral summit. According to Governor Lee, it now appears increasingly likely that the meeting will take place in Gyeongju. While such summits are sometimes held at the hotels where the leaders are staying, this would require one leader to visit the other's accommodation, often leading to intense protocol negotiations between the two sides. Therefore, the Gyeongju Museum, as a 'third-party venue,' offers the advantage of neutrality in this regard.

However, Governor Lee emphasized that he has only recommended the location to both sides and that nothing has been finalized. Regarding the date of the U.S.-China summit, he predicted, "Considering the visit schedules of President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping, it will likely be on the 30th."

Meanwhile, as expectations rise for a possible 'surprise meeting' between the leaders of North Korea and the United States during APEC, Governor Lee stated, "I wanted to invite Chairman Kim Jong Un to Gyeongju to lay the foundation for peace and achieve a 'big deal,' but as of now, it seems difficult for him to come to Gyeongju." He added, "However, I understand that behind-the-scenes contact is taking place at Panmunjom or other locations."